Machine for closing cartons



y 6, 1969 P. A. MARTIN 3,442,063

MACHINE FOR CLOSING CARTONS Filed April 5, 1967 Sheet of s cAw-romsvw y 1969 P. A. MARTIN MACHINE FOR CLOSING CARTONS shet 2 Filed April 3, 1967 MVSMTOKJ J Wo% ALM 1 $45k: QaL

d11- oms y 6, 1969 P. A. MARTIN 3,442,063

MACHINE FOR CLOSING CARTONS Filed April 5, 1967 Sheet 3 of e y 1969 P. A. MARTIN 3,442,063

MACHINE FOR CLOSING CARTONS Filed April 5, 1967 paw) cAQnqetT-nl 5044 war-1 M CJh-ro max/1 May .6, 1969 P. A. MARTIN MACHINE FOR CLIOSING CARTONS Filed April 5, 1967 VBMTOK, qol 4? W w M c g-womsx/ y 6, 1969 P. A. MARTIN 3,442,063

MACHINE FOR CLOSING CARTONS Filed April 5, 1967 Sheet 6 016 J7 8% 2 5 ee QY IOW in, W QM c -lrToRmsYJ United States Patent 3,442,063 MACHINE FOR CLOSING CARTONS Paul A. Martin, Atlanta, Ga., assignor to Riegel Paper Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 3, 1967, Ser. No. 628,126 Int. Cl. B65b 7/20 U.S. Cl. 53-374 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A machine for closing cartons of the type having a closure flap which is tilted relative to the open end of the carton due to the tendency of a side panel joined to the tilted flap to buckle inwardly toward an opposing side panel. A swingable closing arm folds the tilted flap across the end of the carton and carries a hook which engages the flap while the latter is being folded to straighten the buckled panel and to aline the flap with the end of the carton.

Background of the invention This invention relates to a machine for closing cartons having flaps to be folded over open ends of the cartons and, more particularly, to a high speed packaging machine for closing rectangular cartons of the type in which each flap is hinged at one to the end of a side panel and projects from the side panel until folded about the hinge and across the open end of the carton. Prior to folding the flap of such a carton, the adjoining side panel may tend to buckle or how inwardly between its margins and toward the opposed side panel because of the particular construction of the side panel or because of flimsiness of the material. Such buckling destroys the rectangularity of the carton and causes the flap to become tilted relative to the other panels and the open end of the carton so that the flap is positioned improperly for folding across the end of the carton thus resulting in imperfect closing of many cartons and causing frequent interruptions in the operation of modern high speed packaging machinery.

Summary of the invention The primary aim of the present invention is to straighten the buckled side panels and to aline the tilted end flaps with the open ends of the cartons automatically as an incident to folding the flaps about the hinges thereby to insure that the flaps of each carton will be folded squarely across the ends of the carton. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the end flap joined to the buckled side panel is folded about the hinge by a novel closing arm mounted to swing into engagement with the flap and carrying a hook which catches the free edge of the flap after the latter has been folded partially across the carton end and applies a force on the buckled side panel to draw the panel outwardly and thereby position the flap exactly in alinement with the opening in the carton.

Brief description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a new and improved machine embodying the features of the present invention.

3,442,063 Patented May 6, 1969 FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the carton after it is opened from its flattened condition.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-section taken substantially along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the lower end of the carton upon being partially closed.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 and showing the lower end of the carton almost completely closed.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section taken substantially along the line 10-10 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary cross-section taken substantially along the line 11-11 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary elevational view of parts illustrated in FIG. 11 and showing the parts in moved positions.

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12 and showing the parts in further moved positions.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary perspective view of the carton as the lower flaps are being closed.

FIG. 15 is a longitudinal crosssection taken through the carton shown in FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 15 but showing the carton with the lower flaps in closed positions.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section taken substantially along the line 1717 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section taken substantially along the line 18-18 of FIG. 17.

Detailed description As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the invention is embodied in a high speed packaging machine in which cartons 20 stored in a flattened condition in a magazine 21 are removed one at a time from the magazine and are transferred to an intermittently moving carrier 23, the cartons being opened from their flattened condition during this transfer to receive a product to be packaged. On the carrier, the cartons are supported in upright positions and in spaced relation and are advanced step-by-step along a predetermined path through a lower closing station 24 where the lower ends of the cartons are closed, a filling station 25 where a charge of product is deposited in the cartons, and an upper closing station 26 where the upper ends of the cartons are closed to enclose the product in the cartons. The product herein is ice cream which is dispensed in a semi-liquid state through a spout 27 and is delivered into the upper ends of the cartons through a forming member 29.

The cartons 20 are removed from the magazine 21 and delivered to the carrier 23 by a pick-off device including suction cups 30 (FIG. 1) carried on three parallel arms 31 which swing back and forth between the magazine and the carrier and transfer the cartons as suction is applied to and released from the cups in timed relation with the swinging of the arms. In this instance, the carrier comprises a pair of laterally spaced parallel side rails 33 disposed on opposite sides of the carton path, and each guides a pair of slides, such as the slide 34 shown in FIG. 7, for back and forth reciprocation along a line parallel to the path. The slides of each pair are vertically spaced from each other and carry spring fingers 35 (FIG. 7) which engage the cartons on the forward strokes of the slides to advance the cartons and then spring past the cartons idly on the return strokes of the slides. After the cartons have passed through the lower closing station 24, the spacing between successive cartons is decreased and, for this purpose, the upper slides are reciprocated through a longer stroke than the lower slides and the fingers are arranged on the slides such that the advancement of the cartons through the lower closing station is caused by the upper slides while the advancement of the cartons into and through the filling station 25 is caused by the lower slides. A set of lever arms 36 (FIG. 1) connected to the slides 3 and oscillated back and forth about shafts 37 effect the desired reciprocation of the slides, the lever arms being oscillated by a crank 39 rotated by a power shaft 40 and connected to the lever arms by links 41.

One specific example of a carton 20 adapted to be handled by the machine is of the so-called zipper type meaning that access to the contents is gained by peeling away a tear strip 43 (FIG. 2) and swinging a top cover 44 upwardly from the main body of the carton. Such a carton is formed by two relatively wide rectangular side panels 45 and 46 (FIG. 6) hingedly connected along opposite side margins by two narrower rectangular side or edge panels 47 and 48. To close the open ends of the carton, side flaps 50 and 51 and edge flaps 52 and 53 projecting from and initially lying in the planes of the respective panels are folded across the open ends. Usually, the cartons are made from a sheet of suitable material such as paperboard which is scored or otherwise weakened along the margins of the panels and also along the fold lines of the flaps so as to form hinges for the flaps.

As shown most clearly in FIGS. 6 and 14 to 16, the edge flaps 52 and 53 include extensions 54 and 55, respectively, which overlap and interlock with the adjacent edge flap when the flaps are folded across the ends of the carton 20. In closing the ends of carton, as for example the lower end, the lower edge flaps 52 and 53 first are folded simultaneously upwardly and toward each other to the positions shown in FIGS. 14 and in which the edge flaps extend diagonally and in which the extension 54 overlaps and engages the edge flap 53. Continued upward folding of the flaps causes the extension 55 to engage the edge fiap 52 and thus the extension of each flap interlocks with and overlaps the other flap in the final folded positions of the flaps shown in FIG. 16. As an incident to folding the flap 53, a short tab 57 (FIG. 6) in tegrally hinged to the edge panel 47 near the margin thereof adjacent the side panel 45 also is folded and thus underlies a portion of the flap 53. After the edge flaps 52 and 53 have been folded across the lower end of the carton, the side flaps 50 and 51 are folded toward each other so as to underlie the edge flaps and are sealed to the edge flaps and the tab 57 by the application of heat to glue strips (not shown) disposed on the upper faces of the side flaps.

In this instance, the edge panel 47 of the carton is formed by three parts, namely a long wall 59 (FIGS. 2, 7 and 8) integral with the upper and lower edge flaps 53 and hingedly joined to one of the margins of the side panel 46, a short lip 60 hingedly joined to the side panel 45 and overlapping the wall 59, and the tear strip 43 which is joined to the lip 60 and is glued along its inner side to the outer face of the wall 59 as indicated at 61 in FIG. 3 to fasten the wall 59 to the side panel 45. The joint between the lip 60 and the tear strip 43 is weakened by a series of perforations 63 (FIG. 2) formed in the paperboard and extending zig-zag fashion along the length of the tear strip. To open the carton, the customer first places the carton as shown in FIG. 2 with the side panel 45 disposed horizontally, and then pulls outwardly on a short tab 64 formed at one end of the tear strip. As a result of the pulling, the tear strip is peeled away from the glued area 61 and, at the same time, is torn along the perforations 63 to become separated from the lip 60. With the latter thus being released from the wall 59, the carton may be opened by swinging the top cover 44 upwardly to the position shown in phantom in FIG. 3, the cover herein being formed by the side panel 45, the two side flaps 50, the two tabs 57, and the lip 60 of the edge panel 47.

Because the wall 59 of the edge panel 47 is fastened to the side panel 45 only by means of the lip 60 and the tear strip 43, the edge panel 47 may tend to buckle inwardly toward the opposing edge panel 48, such buckling often occurring as the cartons 20 are advanced along the path and being caused by the edge panel 47 rubbing against the adjacent side rail 33. Thus, as shown in FIG. 7, the edge panel 47 buckles along the perforated and weakened line 63 thereby causing the wall 59 to swing inwardly relative to the side panels 45 and 46. As a result, the rectangular shape of carton is distorted and the upper and lower edge flaps 53, which are joined to the ends of the wall 59, become tilted relative to the side panels and are positioned improperly for folding across the open ends of the carton. The panels of cartons of different types, such as those formed with transparent windows in the panels and those made of relatively weak material, also tend to buckle in a similar manner.

The present invention contemplates a novel flap folding mechanism 65 for straightening the buckled edge panels 47 automatically as an incident to folding the edge flaps 53 thereby to aline the tilted flaps squarely with the ends of the cartons 20 and to position the flaps properly for movement into their final folded positions. To these ends, the folding mechanism includes a swingable closing arm 66 which engages and folds the edge flaps 53 across the open ends of the cartons as the latter dwell in the closing station. A hook 67 carried by the free end of the arm engages the free edge of each flap 53 after the same has been folded partially and draws the buckled panel 47 outwardly to aline the flap 53 squarely with the opening in the carton.

Preferably, a flap folding mechanism embodying the features of the invention is mounted in each of the closing stations 24 and 26 to fold the upper and lower edge flaps 53 in a similar manner, the mechanism in the upper station 26 differing from that in the lower station 24 only in details of construction and with similar parts of the mechanism in the upper station being indicated by the same but primed reference numerals. In the present instance, the folding mechanism 65 in the lower closing station is mounted on an inverted U-shaped frame 69 (FIGS. 10 and 11) fastened near the lower edges of the side rails 33. The frame is formed by a pair of laterally spaced vertical side plates 70 and 71 bridged by a horizontal top plate 72. The closing arm 66 for folding the lower edge flaps 53 is fast on one end of a pin 73 adjacent to, but outside of, the path of travel of the edge flaps 53 and the edge panels 47 and journaled near the upper end of a standard 74 upstanding from the side plate 70. A second closing arm 75 for closing the edge flaps 54 is disposed on the opposite side of the path and is fastened to the end of a similar pin 76 journaled in a second standard 77 projecting upwardly from the side plate 71. As each carton 20 dwells in the lower closing station, the two arms are swung inwardly about the axes of the pins and into engagement with the flaps 52 and 53 to fold the latter about the hinges. The movement of the arms is timed to fold the flaps first to the diagonal positions shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 and then to the horizontal closed positions shown in FIG. 16.

To swing the closing arms 66 and 75 inwardly and outwardly in time relation with the advance of the cartons 20, the pins 73 and 76 are oscillated about their axes by a fluid-operated actuator 79 (FIGS. 10 and 11) disposed below the top plate 72 and connected to an arm 80 rigid with a shaft 81 journaled in the side plates 70 and 71. The rocking motion of the shaft caused by reciprocation of the actuator is transmitted to the pins and the closing arms by cranks 83 fast on the ends of the shaft and connected by pitmans 84 to rocker arms 85 rigid with and projecting outwardly from the pins.

As shown most clearly in FIGS. 11 to 13, the closing arm 66 is somewhat longer than the edge flap 53, and the free end of the arm projects into and swings through a transverse slot 86 cut through the top plate 72 of the frame 69. The position of the arm along the carton path is such that the arm is disposed adjacent the leading por tion of the edge flap 53 of a carton 20 dwelling in the lower closing station 24 and engages the flap extension 55 upon being swung inwardly. The hook 67 is carried at the free end of the arm 66 and herein comprises a flat plate fastened to the inner side of the arm by screws 87 (FIG. 12) and formed with an upwardly facing shoulder 89.

Initially, the closing arm 66 is disposed generally alongside the path of the cartons 20 and is inclined slightly in a downward direction as shown in FIG. 11. As a carton approaches the lower closing station 24 with the side panel 45 leading the side panel 46, a plow 90 (FIG. fastened to one of the side rails 33 earns the depending edge flap 53 inwardly so that the edge flap lies against the closing arm 66 when the carton dwells in the closing station. When the edge panel 47 is buckled inwardly, the hinge 91 (FIG. 11) joining the edge flap 53 to the wall 59 of the edge panel 47 is inclined inwardly and forwardly from the lower junction 92 of the edge panel 47 and the side panel 46 thus causing the edge flap 53 to be tilted inwardly and forwardly.

With the closing arm 66 in its initial position (FIG. 11), the free edge of the flap 53 is spaced upwardly from the shoulder 89 of the hook 67. Then, as the closing arm begins swinging inwardly, the inner surface of the arm bears against the flap and folds the latter about the hinge 91 to the position shown in FIG. 12. During the initial folding, the free edge of the flap 53 swings in an are a about the hinge 91 and the shoulder 89 swings in an eccentric arc b about the axis of the pin 73. As the arm and the flap swing to the position shown in phantom in FIG. 13, the arc b intersects the are a and the shoulder 89 engages the free edge of the flap. As a result, continued swinging of the arm causes the free edge of the flap to follow the are b and to swing generally about the axis of the pin 73. This results in the exertion of an outwardly directed force on the flap 53 and the edge panel 47, thereby drawing the edge panel and the hinge 91 outwardly toward the pin to straighten the panel. At the same time, the tilted flap 53 is drawn into a position extending perpendicular to the side panels 45 and 46 and thus folds squarely across the end of the carton as the arm moves to its final position shown in full in FIG. 13. Accordingly, because the hook swings about an axis 73 spaced laterally and outwardly from the hinge 91, a force straightening the flap 53 and the panel 47 is applied to the latter when the shoulder 89 engages the free edge of the flap 53.

Shortly after the edge flaps 52 and 53 are closed, the lower trailing side flap 51 is folded upwardly and forwardly beneath the edge flaps by a curved folding shoe 94 (FIGS. 10 and 11). The latter is carried at the rear end of an arm 95 which is journaled at its opposite end on the shaft 81. A fluid-operated actuator 96 connected to a pin 97 rigid with the mid-portion of the arm 95 first swings the shoe upwardly and forwardly to fold the trailing side flap 51 across the lower end of the carton and then retracts the shoe to a position to catch the flap of the next succeeding carton. The actuators 79 and 96 are controlled by a valve '99 (FIG. 1) which is operated by one of the levers 36 for reciprocating the slides 34, and thus the flap closing arms 66 and 75 and the folding shoe 94 are swung into engagement with the flaps in timed relation with the advance of the cartons. After the edge flaps 52 and 53 and the trailing flap 51 have been folded, the carton is advanced from the lower closing station 24 with the leading side flap 50 moving into engagement with and being folded by a plow 100 (FIGS. 1 and 10) upstanding from the top frame plate '72. and disposed in the carton path. The carton then is advanced to the filling station 25, and finally to the upper closing station 26.

As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the flap folding mechanism 65', disposed in the upper closing station 26 is substantially identical to the lower folding mechanism 65 with the primary difference being that the elements of the upper mechanism are suspended from the frame 69 so as to be in position to fold the upper flaps 50 to 53. Herein, the arm 95' mounting the folding shoe 94' is journaled intermediate its ends on a separate shaft 102 and is con- 6 nected at its forward end to the actuator 96'. arm 66 normally extends upwardly from the pin 73', and the shoulder 89" of the book 67' faces downwardly to engage the free edge of the upper edge flap 53 as the arm 66' is swung downwardly thereby to draw the side panel 47 outwardly as the flap is folded.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the hooks 67 and 67' on the closing arms 66 and 66' draw the buckled edge panels 47 outwardly at the same time the edge flaps 53 are being folded by the arms thereby to position the flaps 53 squarely with the ends of the cartons 20 to facilitate the closing operation. As a result, the operation of the machine is not delayed because of improperly positioned flaps, and each carton is closed completely and perfectly thus reducing the number of cartons requiring re ection.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a machine for closing open rectangular cartons of the type having a closure flap hingedly joined at one end to the end of a panel which tends to buckle toward an opposing panel, the combination of, mechanism for supporting a series of cartons in spaced relation and advancing successive cartons along a predetermined path to a closing station with the closure flaps lying generally in the planes of the respective panels, a closing arm mounted in said closing station for swinging about a predetermined axis spaced from and extending in the same general direction as the hinge axis of the closure flap of a carton in the closing station and for swinging between a first position disposed at one side of said path and a second position extending across the open end of the carton, mechanism for swinging said arm from said first position to said second position in timed relation with the advance of the cartons whereby the arm engages the closure fiap of a carton in said closing station and folds the flap about the hinge axis to a closed position extending across the end of the carton with the free edge of the flap swinging in an are about the hinge axis during the initial folding, and a hook carried by the free end of said arm and spaced from the free edge of the flap during the initial swinging of the arm toward said second position so as to swing in an are spaced from said one arc, said hook engaging said edge and intersecting said one are during continued swinging of said arm toward said second position thereby to draw the flap and the buckled panel toward said predetermined axis and to straighten the panel as an incident to folding the fiap.

2. In a machine for closing rectangular cartons of the type including a closure flap hingedly joined at one end to the end of a panel having a tendency to buckle toward an opposing panel, the combination of, mechanism for supporting a series of cartons in spaced relation and adyancing successive cartons along a predetermined path to a closing station with the closure flaps projecting from the respective panels, a closing arm mounted in said closing station for swinging about a predetermined axis spaced from and substantially paralleling the hinge axis of the closure flap of a carton in the closing station and for swinging between a first position disposed at one side of said path and a second position extending across the end of the carton, mechanism for swinging said arm from said first position to said second position in timed relation with the advance of the cartons whereby the arm engages the closure flap of a carton in said closing station and folds the flap about the hinge axis to a closed position extending across the end of the carton, and a hook carried by the free end of said arm and spaced from the free edge of the flap during initial swinging of the arm toward said second position while being engageable with said edge during continued swinging of the arm thereby to draw the flap and the buckled panel toward said predetermined axis and to straighten the panel as an incident to folding the flap.

3. A machine as defined in claim 2 in which each carton is advanced along said path to said closing station with The closing 7 ts panel and adjoining closure flap disposed in upright aositions, and in which said closing arm is swingable about 1 horizontal axis spaced laterally from said hinge axis and said path to fold the closure flap from its upright position to a horizontal position extending across the end of the :arton.

4. A machine as defined in claim 3 in which said horizontal axis extends parallel to said path, and said closing arm is spaced laterally of said path when in said first position and extends across the path when in said second position.

5. A machine as defined in claim 4 in which the closure flap is hingedly joined to the lower end of the panel, and said hook is carried by the lower end of said arm to fold the flap upwardly while drawing the flap and the buckled panel outwardly.

6. A machine as defined in claim 4 in which the closure flap is hingedly joined to the upper end of the panel, and said hook is carried by the upper end of said arm to fold the flap downwardly while drawing the flap and the buckled panel outwardly.

7. A machine as defined in claim 5 in which said hook is disposed on the side of said arm facing said path and includes an upwardly facing surface for engaging the free edge of the flap.

8. A machine as defined in claim 6 in which said hook is disposed on the side of said arm facing said path and includes a downwardly facing surface for engaging the free edge of the flap.

9. In a machine for closing rectangular cartons of the type having a closure flap hingedly joined at one end to the end of a panel, the combination of, mechanism for supporting and advancing successive cartons along a predetermined path to a closing station with the closure flaps projecting from the respective panels, a closing arm mounted in said closing station for swinging about a predetermined axis spaced from the hinge axis of the closure flap of a carton in the closing station and for swinging between a first position disposed adjacent said path and a second position extending across the end of the carton, mechanism for swinging said arm from said first position to said second position in timed relation with the advance of the cartons whereby the arm engages the closure flap of a carton in said closing station and folds the flap about the hinge axis to a closed position extending across the end of the carton, and a hook carried by the free end of said arm and spaced from the free edge of the flap during initial swinging of the arm toward said second position while being engageable with said edge during continued swinging of the arm thereby to apply force to the panel as an incident to folding the flap.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 53-186 

